The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-04-02
The Normal School.


a malicious attack on the Normal
School project, through the columns
OF the Morning Neaos of Wilmington,
which was answered by DIR. Raub
over his own signature, who pro-
ceeded to call falsehoods by their
proper name, and showed that the
assertions in the main were untrue.
ungenerous and uncalled for. Prof
Skinner, who turns up as observer
; having been hoored on the first
attack, Prof Gooding the Principal
OF the Conference Academy, stands
up IN his place and reiterates some
OF the same untruthful statements
Out IN more guarded way, though
he first stands sponsor for Observer
and his statements. If Prof Good
ing is willing to be responsible for
these false statements it is not our
concern, he is welcome to the glory
he gets from it.
In the second place, both "Obsery-
er" and Prof Gooding show up in n
remarkably poor light as advocates
OF the dog-in-the-manger policy on
educational affairs. So far ne we
know nobody has objected to anv
other school becoming State Nor
mai School. Delaware College saws
she does not wish it and no one else
has asked for it, why then saw that
the prestige is denied to all other
schools of the State?"
But to take up Prof Goodinps
article. We have been shown the
Normal School bill, and we find no
$2,4oO clause in it, nor was there anv
when either Prof. Gooding or Prof
skinner wrote their dog-in-the-man-
ger articles. The clause was oripi-
nally inserted at the suggestion of
the State Superintendent. but was
soon Withdrawn at the request of
some OF the members of the legislaA
ture.
The Academy of Newark is NOT \
denominational School and we think
it likely that those who attack If
know this fact. 1t is not supported
by any Conference, Synod, or other
religious body. Sectarianism is not
considered in the selection of either
trustees or teachers.
The graduates of the Normal
hoolreceive their professionalism
ing before they go out to teach.
whereas those of Academies gain
their professional knowledge at the
expense of the children on whom
they experiment. But Prof Good
ing torgets to say, not Intentionally
OF course; oh, no that it is only
successful teachers that get their
second diploma two years after
graduation, and he also forgets to
add that teachers now have to wait
ten years instead of five for this life
certificate, but the professor treats
this with the same fairness he does
other parts of the bill
Prof. Gooding is a wise man in
knowing that teachers ought to be
examined every year Does he
himself submit to such examine.
ton annually? If not, why not if
it is a good thing? Is not the Pro-
tessor, like "Observer," little behind
the progress of the times on that
question?
We must deny the truth of Prof
Gooding's fourth statement. that
DIR Raub asks the Legislature to
enact a law to prevent the graduates
of other schools from receiving life
certificates in less than five wears. ="
If the Conference Academy will set
aside its scctarianism and become a
State Normal School instead of a
church institution, it will have all
the rights under this bill.
In the fifth place, Prof Gooding
has no right to assert that DR.. r. as
principal Of private school, will be
made a member of the Board of
Examiners. Neither DR.. Raub nor
amy one else knows who will be prin-
cipal of the Normal School. and
furthermore if made State Normal
School it will not be a p,icate school.
The object of the bill is to make it Il
public institution without cost to the
State. Does Prot. Gooding offer any
thing better? If so doubtless the
Legislature will be glad to know it,
and we shall be the first to help it
along.
Prof Gooding errs when he says
the State, independent Of the exam
nations, will have no control over
the school. Has Prof G. read the
bill? If so he knows that he is not
making fair statement. Or if he
has read DR.. Raub's article in last
Mondays Ne,rs, he knows that the
statement is untrue, for the exact
words of the section eivinp tho Stntr